We provide home energy assessments to determine the most cost-effective fixes; energy coaching to access rebates and financing; and connections with specialized contractors and suppliers. (We also work with utilities to develop their rebate and financing programs, and we build up the network of local service providers by hosting professional trainings.) Here’s what that means for homeowners and renters:

• Saved money on upgrades such as added insulation and air sealing, replacement windows, a new boiler/furnace, or a solar electric or solar hot water system.
• Saved money on heating and cooling bills.
• Fewer drafts in winter, and less heat buildup in summer.
• Mold, radon and asbestos mitigation.

Utilities typically offer some kind of temporary emergency assistance to such households. The idea of the CARE program is to address the underlying cause of high bills – energy inefficiency – and thus reduce energy use, and cost, permanently. Income-qualified homeowners and renters receive free energy coaching and high-bang-for-the-buck energy-efficient items, and high discounts on major upgrades.

The resulting savings average $575 per household – a big help for tight budgets. In addition, the retrofits usually improve comfort (upgraded houses and trailers hold their warmth better in winter and are easier to keep cool in summer) and often improve safety (broken windows, poorly vented furnaces). Seniors account for a large percentage of the beneficiaries, and they typically rave about the marked improvement to their living situations.